Felmersham Church Organ

The organ was built in 1873 and is the work of John Nicholson. Click Here for more information on the organ.
The major items of the organ such as wind reservoir, chests and soundboards have lasted for 130 years without renovation although they are now suffering from the effects of fair wear and tear. As such the organ is to be repaired at an estimated cost of £47,310 made possible by a grant of up to £30,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Organ Repair Appeal Fund

The total estimate cost of repairing the organ is £47,310 of which £16,410 has been raised by concerts, coffee mornings, grants and a substantial bequest. Felmersham Parochial Church Council has bridged the funding gap by securing a grant of up to £30,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Phase 1 - The Installation of a New Blower

	Originally the organ was pumped by hand however in 1936 an electric blower was installed and this remained in service until 2005 when it finally failed. A new blower was installed in March 2005 by Robert Shaftoe who besides being an organ repairer is a cabinet maker. Consequently he constructed a new case as well as fitting the blower. The cost of this work was £2,092. < Robert Shaftoe installing the blower

Phase 2 - Repair of the Organ
Synopsis of Organ Restoration work to be carried out by Nicholson & Company. This work started on 8 January 2007 and is due to be completed by April 2007. Pipe-work removed, thoroughly cleaned, stoppers to be refitted and greased plus reeds restored to correct speech.

Soundboards (Great and Swell) renovated to correct split timbers, broken animal glue joints and perished leather replaced. Other work involves broken sliders repaired and adjusted for free and smooth working.
Pedal Open Diapason and Bourden Chests renovated by splits screwed and filled, wind-ways flooded with glue, pallets cleaned off and recovered with felt and leather, springs cleaned, lubricated and reset.
Console and case timbers cleaned and waxed. New wiring and switches installed.
Keyboard cleaned and regulated with recovering of discoloured keys.
Pedal-board keys refaced with springs adjusted.
Key mechanism cleaned and overhauled with pedal pneumatics re-leathered.
Stop and combination action re-bushed, regulated and fitted with new centres.
Swell shutters refitted to ensure correct closing.
The large wind reservoir to be re-leathered with top grade sheepskin and then checked to be wind – tight.
Blower unit moved inside the organ on reassembly.
The whole instrument fine tuned and regulated throughout.

Organ in the News

Ann Greenish Paul Keeble (Churchwarden)
Rev David Mason (Vicar) Victoria Webb (Anglia TV)

Anglia TV News included an item about the organ restoration and the Heritage Lottery Fund grant in their Maundy Thursday (2006) broadcasts. Anglia's presenter, Victoria Webb filmed the programme in St Mary's church and Ann Greenish played the organ.
"Bedford on Sunday" included an article in their Easter Sunday 2006 newspaper including a comment from Robert Llewellyn, Heritage Lottery Fund's manager for the East of England, supporting the project.

Church Organ Restoration Completed on Time

Paul Keeble, the Felmersham Churchwarden reports: Nicholson & Company have "pulled out all the stops" to complete the organ restoration in time for Easter (8 April 2007). They handed over the organ on Maundy Thursday (5 April 2007) after completing 6 weeks work on site over a three month period and 4 weeks work carried out in the factory at Malvern.
The organ will be played on Easter Day at the 10:15 am service.

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